HRT Access Fund Instruction Packet

This Instruction Packet will walk you through every question in our application form.

The goal of this packet is to give you the opportunity to carefully think about these questions and your responses ahead of time, so you can submit a high-quality application.

Last updated: May 14, 2025

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Section 1: Eligibility Checks

We will first confirm your eligibility to participate in accordance with your state’s regulations and requirements.  

• Which provider do you intend to enroll with? (Folx, Plume, QueerMed, QueerDoc, TrueU, or The Other Clinic)
• I have verified that I meet the minimum eligibility requirements of my preferred provider.

• Plume Eligibility Requirements
• Folx Eligibility Requirements: Use the “Ready to get started?” feature to check your eligibility.
• QueerMed Eligibility Requirements
• QueerDoc Eligibility Requirements: Scroll down to the “How It Works” box.
• TrueU Eligibility Requirements
• The Other Clinic Eligibility Requirements
• Outpatient Family Medicine Transformed Requirements

• Will you be at least 18 years old by August 1?
  

Section 2: General Information

We will communicate with you via email regarding the status of your application. We ask for your phone number as a back-up means of communication. Point of Pride is committed to protecting your privacy. Read our Privacy Policy

• Your Name
• Your Email
• Your Phone Number
• Your City/State/Zip Code
• Your Pronouns
• Your Age

Support Person

Some folks need added support with their application due to language barriers, disability, inconsistent access to Internet or other factors. Both you and your support person will be included on all emails regarding your application. A support person is optional and not required to submit an application.  

• Support person’s name
• Relationship to support person (Check all that apply: translation support, emotional support, technological/Internet support, accessibility support, or other)
• At least one of the following:

• Support person’s email
• Support person’s phone number

Section 3: Demographic Information

The optional demographic info collected in this section helps us identify additional grant and partnership opportunities, and better serve our applicants and community in the future. Your responses will not affect your eligibility for this (or any other) Point of Pride program. It is for statistical use only, and you may decline providing some or all of this information.

• Your gender identity
• Your age
• Your ethnicity origin
• Your veteran/military status
• Do you have any long-standing illness, disability or infirmity? (Long-standing means anything that has troubled you over a period of time or that is likely to affect you over a period of time.)        

• If yes: Have you applied for, or do you currently receive, government disability benefits (SSI/SSDI or your country's equivalent?)

• Are you the primary caretaker for another individual?
• Are you currently, or have you ever experienced any of the following:

• homelessness or housing insecurity?
• discrimination by your healthcare provider?
• discrimination by an employer?
• Incarceration?

• Your student status

Section 4: HRT

In this section, we’ll ask you to share what kind of HRT you’re seeking, and whether or not you’ve previously received HRT services in the past. This helps us to better understand you as an applicant and your medical transition as a whole, but will not change your likelihood to receive funding.

• What type of HRT are you seeking?
• Have you previously or are you currently receiving HRT?

• If yes: please explain what types of services you received, when you received them, how many treatments in total, etc. Please be as specific as you can.

• Have you ever had an appointment or services provided by your preferred provider or otherwise set up an account with your preferred provider?

Section 5: Your Need

In the last section of the application, you will complete two short answer responses. These prompts are highlighted below. Please read the explanation and examples beneath each question, so you understand what our reviewers are looking for.

To ensure a fair and unbiased review, applications are reviewed anonymously. In your written responses, please do not include your name or other personally identifying information, such as your full name, links to a personal website or GoFundMe page, links to social media pages, or anything else that could be used to determine who you are.

You will have 800 characters for each short answer response, which is roughly 160 words.

Your application is completely confidential and will only be shared with the review team for the purpose of reviewing your application. In the event that you are a recipient of our program, nothing you disclose is shared publicly without your permission and approval.

We are looking for authenticity in your responses. If you choose to use AI such as ChatGPT, we ask that you do so as a tool to edit what you have already written, not create answers entirely.

Note: This is not an English test. We will NOT consider grammar/spelling or writing ability when reviewing your responses. Above all, please give us detailed, thorough responses so we understand your unique situation.

1. In 800 characters or less, please describe your current barriers to receiving HRT through locally available doctors or services.
   (800 character limit)
   We ask this question to understand the circumstances that create or contribute to your specific experiences and lack of access to affirming medical care. Examples of what you can discuss here are:

• research or action you’ve taken towards accessing HRT services, such as

1. researching local providers who have worked with trans patients
2. seeking consultations with potential providers
3. obtaining health insurance or changing health insurance providers
4. appealing a health insurance denial for HRT providers or medication

• experiences you have had, such as

1. experiencing discrimination or gatekeeping by a provider
2. living in an area where competent gender-affirming care is tough to find
3. inability to travel to another state or location where care is accessible

• if you have unique circumstances or health concerns that have impacted your ability to receive HRT through locally available doctors or services

Note: Our reviewers are trans-identified and actively tracking anti-trans legislation that may impact access to gender-affirming care. We know many applicants are living in high-risk states. Please avoid generalizations (i.e., “I live in Florida so it’s hard to get HRT.”) so that reviewers do not have to make assumptions about your specific situation. Instead, you are encouraged to focus on how your unique circumstances have impacted your ability to access care.

In addition, if you're living in an unsupportive housing situation, please tell us more about your plans once the effects of HRT become apparent to those you live with. We want to ensure you have thoroughly considered your safety and housing.

2. In 800 characters or less, please describe your current financial need and what receiving 12 months of HRT support would mean for you. 
   (800 character limit)
   We ask this question to understand the expenses and circumstances that have created your financial need. Examples of what you can discuss here are:

• your employment situation, or if you’re unemployed/underemployed
• your housing situation, or if you’re living with housing insecurity/homelessness
• if you are the main financial provider for others, and what that looks like
• if you have other medical or financial concerns/debt outside of your transition
• if you are a student
• if you’ve experienced unique or extreme circumstances in your life that have impacted your existing savings or ability to save for medical transition/HRT in the future